Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Sunday - July 13, 2008
From: Portland, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Mystery plant in hay fields in Tennessee
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I found plants growing in my hay fields that are about 4 feet tall, large leaves and blooms (ball shaped) bell flowers.That is, the blooms looks like a pom pom with about 50 to 80 small flowers "hanging" from small stems on each ball . The flowers are perfectly shaped lavender color with small round middles. Very fragrant. Can email a pic if needed. Very interested in knowing if this is some type of weed or old plant. I live on a plantation farm from the 1800s, so I never know what might pop up once the ground is tilled or moved some.ANSWER:
That sounds like a really interesting plant. About the best way we can hope to identify a plant is to have a picture. Go to the Mr. Smarty Plants page, and on the lower right end area under "Plant Identification" you will find instructions for sending us a digital picture. We will then do our best to figure out what it is.
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant Identification
June 03, 2009 - We have a new vine growing on our fence. It eventually gets red balls (about 1" in dia) that are filled with small white seeds. Before the balls turn red, they are covered with a fine, thin fern (f...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
August 09, 2012 - I have a plant which has fern like leaves on the top and round broad leaves near the ground. What is it?
view the full question and answer
Identification of fleshy green lobes on the ground
January 08, 2010 - I have been hiking in the Austin area and it is January:
Noticing dark green, rubbery, lobe shaped sheets on the ground. Less then 2". Usually near low growing fuzzy moss clumps. There are many of...
view the full question and answer
Bee-friendly bush with small yellow flowers in Minnesota
August 04, 2015 - I was up north in Minnesota and saw a bee friendly bush with small yellow flowers clustered so they looked like small (4"-6") flocked Christmas trees. Any ideas? Thanks!
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
May 07, 2008 - I have a plant growing in my yard that I would like to know what it is. It has two very different leaf types on the same plant. One set of leaves is thick and oval in shape, the others look very much ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |